Izturis tabbed as Brewers' new shortstop

TheSportsXchange

05/08/2012

After losing starting shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a season-ending torn ACL, the Milwaukee Brewers are turning to veteran Cesar Izturis to fill the void. Manager Ron Roenicke says Edwin Maysonet will also see some time at shortstop.

With shortstop Alex Gonzalez lost for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, manager Ron Roenicke is prepared to go with backup Cesar Izturis as the starter at that position.

The Brewers summoned shortstop Edwin Maysonet from Class AAA Nashville to fill Gonzalez's spot on the roster but Roenicke said he will back up Izturis, a former starter at short in the majors.

"I like 'Izzy,'" said Roenicke. "I like what he's been doing in the couple days that Alex has been out. He's a veteran who's played every day before. We need to spell him because I obviously don't want to lose him, so we'll get Maysonet in there for him to give him a break.

"But I like Izzy there. Defensively, he's really good. He'll be all right."

The well-traveled Izturis, 32, played the previous three seasons with Baltimore. He was limited to 18 games last season by an elbow injury that required surgery.

Izturis doesn't have the pop that Gonzalez has, but is a capable defender. He won a Gold Glove with the Dodgers in 2004 and it was his ability to play three infield positions that prompted the Brewers to sign him to a minor league deal over the winter.

Of Gonzalez's injury, Izturis said, "It's tough but it's part of the game. Now, my job is to go out there and try to help the team win anyhow. We'll see what happens."

Maysonet, 30, has played 46 games in the majors, all with the Houston Astros during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He batted .276 with one home run and seven RBI in 76 at-bats.

Brewers Notes & Quotes

SS Alex Gonzalez, as feared, has a torn ACL in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the season. The Brewers expected that news after Gonzalez injured the knee in San Francisco on Saturday and an MRI performed Monday in Milwaukee confirmed it.

OF Norichika Aoki started in center field Monday against Cincinnati after OF Nyjer Morgan started there Sunday in San Francisco. With OF Carlos Gomez on the DL with a hamstring injury, manager Ron Roenicke said he will choose between Aoki and Morgan in center depending on who is swinging the bat better.

RHP Marco Estrada started Monday night after having his previous outing skipped as the No. 5 starter because of an off day on the schedule. Manager Ron Roenicke could have used RHP Yovani Gallardo (1-3, 5.79) on regular rest but Gallardo has been struggling for consistency and was given an extra day of rest.

With 1B Mat Gamel lost with a knee injury, manager Ron Roenicke gave three different players starts at first base in the weekend series in San Francisco -- 1B Travis Ishikawa, INF Brooks Conrad and INF Taylor Green, just up from Class AAA Nashville. Ishikawa, considered the better defender of the three, was back at first on Monday against Cincinnati.

LF Ryan Braun will team with a good friend, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, to back a new restaurant outside of Milwaukee in Brookfield, Wis. The restaurant will be named 8*twelve, combining the numbers worn by the players. Braun's name already is on a Milwaukee restaurant, Ryan Braun's Graffitto.

By the Numbers: 27 – Runs scored by the Brewers in their last 10 games.

Quote to Note: "We're not pitching and we're not hitting. Regardless of who we have out there, if we don't do those things better we're not going to have a good year." -- Manager Ron Roenicke.